Reaching Dwarka
After a day stay in Ahmedabad, the next destination to approach was Dwarka. On a Wednesday morning reached Gita mandir bus stand. The commute was completed in a three-wheeler with the man at the wheels as cooperative as he could be. Buses were lined for destinations like Somnath, Dwarka and Rajkot. The STD booth right behind the bus parking lot was amply helpful with the one manning the same able to place me and seeing me chant Lord Govinda's name he too revealed the opportunity he secured to visit Tirumala in the past. The bus for Jamnagar started at 8.06 , going past stores like Bhutan Products Druk Tirupati Trading Co. and Sardar Patel market identified with a clock tower. This was followed by a Kite museum and a hoarding which triumphed on Aug. Thunder : "Because Aug. comes once in a year. Make the most of it".
On a Desai road there is a soda shop Gandhi 1947 followed by another hoarding "residential plots starting at less than 3.5 lacs". Then there is a satellite station sporting a clock not in a functioning mode. Left Satellite at 8.30 and soon we were on NH 47. Whatever road diversion we came across began and ended in Changodar area. At Zydus Research Centre and roundabout, Dwarka is shown to be 427 km . Around nine the bus goes past Zydus Cadila with people reporting for work. Further down there are hoardings and directions to Sheetal Varsha Internet Village.
First Toll Gate
The first toll gate comes at 9.45 with the board showing Somnath, Bhuj, Rajkot and Morbi falling in the same direction though directions to some are different after Rajkot. When Rajkot is 145 km away we are on NH 8A and a board reads Rajkot National Highway Limit begins. Limbdi is accessed at 10.30 with Rajkot still 118km away. The halt happens at Hotel Avadh for meals with Hemu bhai coming to your rescue on food options. At 11.25 Rajkot is 91 followed by Rajkot 65 at 11.50. Chotila is accessed at 12.10 with clear directions to a Jalaram guest house. With Bamanbore toll plaza coming at 12.30, Rajkot and Dwarka are shown to be 36 and 289 kms away. With 19 km left for Rajkot to be gained i spot a Bihar Tyre service shop on the right side. And when it is 3 km away, the Somnath board shows it to be a 198-km cakewalk.
At 1.18 in the afternoon i am in Rajkot ST bus stand with a halt enough to sight on the back of a three-wheeler delivery van the biscuits with the fame of seesaw, salt kiss and cream 4 run. As the bus leaves, out on a corner is an Ambassador with IA (indian Airlines) sign etched on it with a number GJ-3k 1554. Another car, probably a fiat i spotted in Ahmedabad the other day had GLB-8374.
From here Okha and Ahmedabad are equidistant
Once in the outskirts of Rajkot i come across a new Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, almost on the verge of getting completed. It is at 1.50 that distances between Okha and Ahmedabad are equally split with Okha at 242 and Ahmedabad at 241. Reach Paddhari at 2.08 followed by Khamta at 2.20. In between at 2.10 Jamnagar is shown to be 63 km away. At 2.25 we reach All India Radio Super Power Transmitter Akashvani bus stand. Rain starts at 2.30 to last barely few minutes and later there is another spell of shower.
Stoppages between Rajkot and Jamnagar are: Paddhari, Dhrol, Bejara, Rampur and Jambuda. At 2.48 spot a three- wheeler for the first time on the National Highway stretch. Outskirts of Jamnagar are out and out drenched and deboard the bus at 3.20 at saath rasta in the city. From here head towards teen batti chowk and take masala dosa(between 40 and 60rs) from Madras Hotel. The kalpana restaurant from where i had the meals last time is probably under renovation. Adjacent to Madras hotel are Anand book centre and novelty store among others. Reach Jamnagar ST bus stand just after 4.30 and the ride from teen batti chowk is familiar going past Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, Pradarshan Ground and Vivekananda Garden.
The bus for Dwarka begins at 5 (this bus too has originated from Ahmedabad) with Sikka coming just before 5.30, Reliance at 5.40 and Khambaliya at 6.15 in the evening. In Khambaliya the Revenue building has DC office, Mamlatdar office and subregistrar office. Amongst stores in Khambaliya are Shiv provision, Jay traders and somewhere in between is Rajhans hair parlour, two shops at different ends. Spot a tractor here with a number that probably reads GAJ 787. Most of the passengers get down at Khambaliya ST bus stand and from here there are barely 10 on board for Dwarka journey. Out of Khambaliya by 6.30 and at 7.15 Dwarka is 42 and at 7.35 Dwarka is 20km. Finally the bus is in Dwarka at 8.10 . From Khambaliya to Dwarka the ride is amidst a rain spell with a wavering momentum.
For a journey of over 440 km, the ride on two different buses of GSRTC was smooth enough given the better laid out roads. Signages are plenty and error free. One can cover Ahmedabad-Dwarka stretch on govt.buses and if one does not break the journey, the ride can be accomplished in under 11 hours. An hour in Dwarka and it begins to drizzle.
After a day stay in Ahmedabad, the next destination to approach was Dwarka. On a Wednesday morning reached Gita mandir bus stand. The commute was completed in a three-wheeler with the man at the wheels as cooperative as he could be. Buses were lined for destinations like Somnath, Dwarka and Rajkot. The STD booth right behind the bus parking lot was amply helpful with the one manning the same able to place me and seeing me chant Lord Govinda's name he too revealed the opportunity he secured to visit Tirumala in the past. The bus for Jamnagar started at 8.06 , going past stores like Bhutan Products Druk Tirupati Trading Co. and Sardar Patel market identified with a clock tower. This was followed by a Kite museum and a hoarding which triumphed on Aug. Thunder : "Because Aug. comes once in a year. Make the most of it".
On a Desai road there is a soda shop Gandhi 1947 followed by another hoarding "residential plots starting at less than 3.5 lacs". Then there is a satellite station sporting a clock not in a functioning mode. Left Satellite at 8.30 and soon we were on NH 47. Whatever road diversion we came across began and ended in Changodar area. At Zydus Research Centre and roundabout, Dwarka is shown to be 427 km . Around nine the bus goes past Zydus Cadila with people reporting for work. Further down there are hoardings and directions to Sheetal Varsha Internet Village.
First Toll Gate
The first toll gate comes at 9.45 with the board showing Somnath, Bhuj, Rajkot and Morbi falling in the same direction though directions to some are different after Rajkot. When Rajkot is 145 km away we are on NH 8A and a board reads Rajkot National Highway Limit begins. Limbdi is accessed at 10.30 with Rajkot still 118km away. The halt happens at Hotel Avadh for meals with Hemu bhai coming to your rescue on food options. At 11.25 Rajkot is 91 followed by Rajkot 65 at 11.50. Chotila is accessed at 12.10 with clear directions to a Jalaram guest house. With Bamanbore toll plaza coming at 12.30, Rajkot and Dwarka are shown to be 36 and 289 kms away. With 19 km left for Rajkot to be gained i spot a Bihar Tyre service shop on the right side. And when it is 3 km away, the Somnath board shows it to be a 198-km cakewalk.
At 1.18 in the afternoon i am in Rajkot ST bus stand with a halt enough to sight on the back of a three-wheeler delivery van the biscuits with the fame of seesaw, salt kiss and cream 4 run. As the bus leaves, out on a corner is an Ambassador with IA (indian Airlines) sign etched on it with a number GJ-3k 1554. Another car, probably a fiat i spotted in Ahmedabad the other day had GLB-8374.
From here Okha and Ahmedabad are equidistant
Once in the outskirts of Rajkot i come across a new Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, almost on the verge of getting completed. It is at 1.50 that distances between Okha and Ahmedabad are equally split with Okha at 242 and Ahmedabad at 241. Reach Paddhari at 2.08 followed by Khamta at 2.20. In between at 2.10 Jamnagar is shown to be 63 km away. At 2.25 we reach All India Radio Super Power Transmitter Akashvani bus stand. Rain starts at 2.30 to last barely few minutes and later there is another spell of shower.
Stoppages between Rajkot and Jamnagar are: Paddhari, Dhrol, Bejara, Rampur and Jambuda. At 2.48 spot a three- wheeler for the first time on the National Highway stretch. Outskirts of Jamnagar are out and out drenched and deboard the bus at 3.20 at saath rasta in the city. From here head towards teen batti chowk and take masala dosa(between 40 and 60rs) from Madras Hotel. The kalpana restaurant from where i had the meals last time is probably under renovation. Adjacent to Madras hotel are Anand book centre and novelty store among others. Reach Jamnagar ST bus stand just after 4.30 and the ride from teen batti chowk is familiar going past Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, Pradarshan Ground and Vivekananda Garden.
The bus for Dwarka begins at 5 (this bus too has originated from Ahmedabad) with Sikka coming just before 5.30, Reliance at 5.40 and Khambaliya at 6.15 in the evening. In Khambaliya the Revenue building has DC office, Mamlatdar office and subregistrar office. Amongst stores in Khambaliya are Shiv provision, Jay traders and somewhere in between is Rajhans hair parlour, two shops at different ends. Spot a tractor here with a number that probably reads GAJ 787. Most of the passengers get down at Khambaliya ST bus stand and from here there are barely 10 on board for Dwarka journey. Out of Khambaliya by 6.30 and at 7.15 Dwarka is 42 and at 7.35 Dwarka is 20km. Finally the bus is in Dwarka at 8.10 . From Khambaliya to Dwarka the ride is amidst a rain spell with a wavering momentum.
For a journey of over 440 km, the ride on two different buses of GSRTC was smooth enough given the better laid out roads. Signages are plenty and error free. One can cover Ahmedabad-Dwarka stretch on govt.buses and if one does not break the journey, the ride can be accomplished in under 11 hours. An hour in Dwarka and it begins to drizzle.
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